SYPHILIS OF THE EPIDIDYMIS

Syphilitic involvement of the epididymis or cord, independent of disease of the testicles, is rare, and, if present, is overlooked in the examination of patients when one is searching for signs of syphilitic infection. The discovery of several cases of infiltrated epididymides and thickened cords, due to syphilis, led to a search for more minute descriptions of these conditions, but little could be found. Dr. Benjamin Bell, surgeon to the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh in 1793, first called attention to syphilitic diseases of the testicles. Ricord denied the existence of syphilitic epididymitis, while Nelaton, Fournier, Dron (1863), Balme, Gosselin, Pinner, Shadek and others gave accurate descriptions and classified types. Very little has been written in late years on the subject. In 1916, Franklin R. Wright 1 gave descriptions of two cases, and, in 1918, Hinman and Lisser 2 described a single classical case. These two articles are the only ones